The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has been hospitalised after being brutally attacked by police officers during a union protest in Imo state.
Ajaero’s right eye is completely shut, and he has suffered other injuries, according to NLC’s head of information and publicity, Comrade Benson Upah.
Upah said Ajaero was beaten, blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination, where he was further brutalised.
His phones, money, and other personal effects were also taken from him, this newspaper has learnt.
Upah said, “Contact has been made with Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero this evening around 15:30 hours at the Police Hospital in Owerri from where he was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where he is receiving medical attention.
This development follows a statement by the Imo State Police Command denying the arrest of the labour leader.
Police Public Relations Officer, Okoye Henry, said contrary to reports, Ajaero was placed in protective custody.
“It is pertinent to state that the NLC President was in Owerri as part of arrangements of the Congress to mobilize workers for a mega protest rally in the state,” the police said.
“In the course of their planning, it was reported that suggestions arose for the lockdown of some essential facilities particularly the airport which led to some workers and other individuals resisting the picketing process leading to scuffles and heated arguments and an eventual attack on the person of the president by a mob.
“Upon receiving this report, the Imo Police Command swiftly deployed police operatives to the scene where the Officer in Charge exercised his operational discretion by taking the NLC President into protective custody at the State Command Headquarters to ensure the protection of his life and that he was not lynched in the scuffle that followed.”
Imagine when police made to protect you beat you and deny beating you who will investigate the matter?
We have seen something in this our God endowed country
This is very nice because these are the same people that corrupt this country this idiot is not active workers are suffering
This is inhuman. He is a labour leader for crying out load and do reserve the right to protest even at national level.
But truth be told, Comr. Joe Ajaore should have allowed the initial declaration of the nation wide strike to commence before going into negotiation with FG. Perhaps, we won’t be experiencing this now.
God help us all. Ameen.
This is Nigeria
Have you read the content?
This is automatically unfair, injustice thought the way in which the protest take place is not guarantee
I’m not surprised
Police again? Bunch of fools
Nigeria Police is a disgrace to the Nation, upon the peaceful protest is to uplift working condition of workers including the police welfare. Once you give them money for special duty they will start behaving like numskull, the next thing their leadership will start denying everything.
Have you read the story??
This is nigeria
Hope uzordimgba is a disgrace to IMO people, he should remember that he can not remain as governor forever.